Cat ringworm is a fungal infection that affects the skin and is very common in felines. This condition is caused by dermatophytes, which are fungal organisms that invade the skin, hair and claws.
There are three main types of dermatophytes that can affect cats: Microsporum gypseum (M.gypseum), Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis. Some of these are more specific for rodents and dogs, but since your cat might come into contact with these animals, the fungal organisms might choose to migrate to a new host. Another place to get cat ringworms is from contaminated soil. Infected objects such as grooming equipment or bedding can also transmit the fungus, as will any contact with humans, pets and animals that have it.
Common symptoms of cat ringworm are patches of lost hair around the limbs and head, which have a circular form, baldness, dandruff, dry skin that is itchy and onychomycosis (a form of claw infection). When you see such symptoms, contact a veterinarian. Methods of diagnosis include culture samples, microscopic examinations and biopsies.
If your worries come true and your cat really does have ringworm, then you should treat it and the environment it lives in immediately. If you have more cats in your household, examine them too and treat them if they also have the ringworm. This condition isn’t fatal and will not cause permanent health problems for your cat. If left untreated, it will simply go away by itself after two or four months. However, it should be stopped, as it is extremely uncomfortable for your cat and it is also highly contagious, which means that humans and other pets living near it might also catch it. So, it is recommended to quicken the health process by administering treatment to your cat. There are a few useful one’s to try.
Dips and shampoos are great and quite efficient in these situations. Bathe the cat every four or six days, for a period of two to four weeks. Especially useful are shampoos or dips that contain lime sulfur. When using this ingredient, the cat’s hair coat might turn yellowish, but fortunately, the coloring will disappear over time. You can also try and trim your cat’s hair if it is long, as this can help control the skin condition.
You can also use a variety of antifungal drugs designed for cats. One such drug is Griseofulvin. This drug inhibits the cell division of the fungus, which allows the cat’s immune system to gain control to better fight off the infection. There are also other drugs such as ketoconazole (Nizoral), Itraconazole and Terbinafine (Lamisil, and even a special vaccine that is used to prevent ringworms called Fel-O-Vax. Don’t forget to ask your veterinarian about these potential treatments and always remember to have specialized advice that comes from professionals only so as not to endanger your pet’s life.
Your pet is a part of your family, a part of your life. Ensuring that it stays healthy and happy should be a main objective to anyone.
